Designer Sophia Webster Reveals the 5 Secrets to Her $14 Million Success

The people in this picture likely didn’t get much sleep for celebrating last night. Sophia Webster, perched on the stool holding her “Boss Lady” shoes, is the girl who just walked off with the 2016 British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund award. Here she is, surrounded by her team at the girly heaven that is Sophia Webster HQ in Shoreditch, London—the boss of her eponymous cute-and-sexy shoe brand, which has taken off all over America in the space of two and a half years.

How did she do that? Hitting straight to the hearts of girls with fun, colorful not-too-bank-breaking shoes and bags at the right time. Sticking to her guns about what she wanted to do. Being a natural-born Insta-designer: A glance at her feed turns up Kendall Jenner in her lacy, laced-up thigh-high Delphine boots; Kate Hudson in her Coco Flamingo pumps; shots of her fondant pink and silver butterfly-winged Evangeline sandals; her “Wifey for Lifey” bridal shoes; and her adorable children’s Flutterby sandals. Not to mention, a shot of Webster’s toddler, Bibi Blossom, clad in a pink cardigan, on the phone, and drawing at Webster’s desk—“Multitasking like her mama #BossBaby.”

Here, Webster shares the secrets behind her zero to $14 million turnover success.

1. “I always was very clear that everything has to be attainable, very feminine, colorful, and playful—growing up, my idol was always Gwen Stefani. A glamorous tomboy! And I want my little sister to be able to afford it.”

2. “I started my Instagram in 2012. It was second nature to use it. It’s very visual, a digital brand, really.”

3. “I met my husband, Bobby Stockley [he’s behind her in the photo], at a club in Ibiza after I graduated in shoe design at the Royal College of Art. Bobby was an electrical engineer. He was there with a drill when I built the set for my first presentation. Now he’s my managing director!”

4. “Me and my sister did competition disco dancing when we were children. We competed all over the country. It taught me you have to train, be driven, and really committed if you want to be best.”

5. “I never worry about work-life balance, because this doesn’t feel like work! I just love what we do.”